This extraordinarily gifted generation could have made Mozambique a major force in world football, but there was no Mozambican state or national side in 1966. Os MagriÃ§os reflected Salazarâ€™s attempt to justify continuing colonialism despite decolonization elsewhere by proclaiming that its African subjects were also Portuguese.

Even if there was a coercive subtext to Mozambiqueâ€™s golden generation representing the country that had colonized them, Mozambicans still felt a thrill at seeing their countrymen excel on the world stage â€“ implanting an affinity for Portugal's football team that survived long after the end of colonial rule.

In 2012, during the European Championship, Maputoâ€™s city center was festooned with massive posters of Portugal's current star, Cristiano Ronaldo, with Mozambican fans donning Portuguese shirts and scarves as they gathered around TV sets to cheer the team on.